THE ARTS & CULTURE

Creative minds have always found inspiration in Louisiana, where a dynamic fusion of cultures embraces the unusual and offbeat. Louisiana has a remarkable collection of museums and galleries featuring everything from historic artifacts to provocative modern art.

Greater New Orleans: Art & Innovation
The arts scen —and gallery walks—are booming, from the Arts District, with its groundbreaking Contemporary Arts Center, to Magazine Street, with its 60 blocks of boutiques and galleries offering pottery, jewelry and handcrafts. The French Quarter, famous for wrought-iron architectural details, is filled with galleries and historic buildings, most notably Jackson Square's St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo and Presbytére. Museums include Ogden Museum of Southern Art, U.N.O., a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, which has the world's largest Southern art collection.

Plantation Country: Grand Exhibitions
Treasures in this historically rich area range from plantations filled with works of art to the Old State Capitol, a 150-year-old gothic-style building overlooking the Mississippi River. The Shaw Center combines rich diversity and breathtaking architecture, reflecting the dedication of the Baton Rouge community to the visual and performing arts. The Louisiana Art and Science Museum traces American and European styles of painting, while art of nearly every genre is on display at the Baton Rouge Gallery, one of the oldest professional artist cooperatives. Louisiana Mud Painting Gallery showcases nostalgic Louisiana scenes created with mud and other natural resources.

Cajun Country: Exquisite Crafts
Artisans display exceptional handcrafts in a historical setting at Louisiana Crafts Guild/Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery. In Lafayette, Blue Dog Café doubles as an art gallery, and funky shops spice up Jefferson Street Market. Zigler Museum has six centuries of European and American art, while Louisiana State Museum offers a fascinating look at aviation history. In Lake Charles, the historic homes in Charpentier make an artistic statement.

Crossroads: Culture Meets Arts
At River Oaks Square Arts Center, artists and craftsmen at work in their studios are part of the aesthetic experience. Natchitoches, long a hub for artistic expression, is known for its Art Guild and charming French Creole-style architecture. Nearby, time seems to have stood still within Cane River National Heritage Area, which has a historic park and 24 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sportsman's Paradise: Antiques Heaven
One of the gems here is Antique Alley, a mecca of one-of-a-kind treasures. At Meadows Museum, 1,500 works of art offer insight into world cultures and traditions—highlights include paintings by American Impressionist Alfred Maurer. Two museums explore the country's history: Louisiana State Exhibit Museum houses an outstanding collection of American Indian artifacts, while the Louisiana Military Museum chronicles conflicts from the Spanish American War to today's war on terror.